Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the remit of the community welfare officers with regard to persons currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance-rent allowance who are making personal contributions above the recommended limits for rental of properties; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who are in receipt of SWA are often struggling to meet their rent because they are being forced to make personal contributions above the guidelines; if she will clarify the Department's guidelines that exist in a situation where a person wishes to notify a community welfare officer that they are making a personal contribution in excess of the guidelines; the protections that exist to ensure that the person will be assisted in maintaining their current rentals; whether or not the community welfare officer may increase SWA limits to assist the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10508/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are currently approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.

Following an extensive review of the private rental market revised maximum rent limits were introduced from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. Despite the overall pressures on the social protection budget, there have been increases in the rent limits in Dublin, Galway, North Kildare and Bray areas. Special provisions can be made in exceptional circumstances to exceed the rent limits including, for example, people with disabilities who require specially adapted accommodation or homeless persons.

Rent supplement is calculated to ensure that an eligible person, after the payment of rent, has a minimum income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) appropriate to their family circumstances, less a minimum weekly contribution of €30 for a single person or €40 for a couple. Where a person has an additional income above the rate of SWA they are, in certain circumstances, required to top up their rent.

The tenant, landlord or landlord’s agent must complete the rent supplement application form declaring that the information provided is accurate. The form clearly states that making a false statement or withholding information may lead to prosecution.

The Department, in June 2012, introduced powers of enquiry for staff to formally request and oblige landlords to provide information in respect of rent supplement tenants, principally to verify the agreed rent and tenancy.

Any instance of false declarations of the amount of rent payable should be reported to the relevant Department representatives who have specific legislative powers to deal with such offences. In such cases the Department’s representative will discuss the circumstances of the case with the tenant before making any decision in relation to ongoing entitlement. Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants continue to make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met.